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Everyone knows that in the summer you need to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible. In winter they are not always available, so the best option is to use freezing. Melon attracts housewives with its low calorie content and pleasant taste. It is added to porridges and used as an ingredient for desserts. If you freeze melon pieces for the winter, you can use it in cooking all year round.
Is it possible to freeze melon
Melon is a large fruit belonging to the pumpkin family. It is distinguished by its oval shape and yellowish color. There is a thick skin on top, and inside there is pulp with seeds. The product is a source of many substances beneficial to the human body. It is used in food to strengthen the immune system and restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Melon does not lose its beneficial properties when exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, freezing is a great way to extend its shelf life. If you violate the freezing rules, the structure of the fruit will change. Therefore, it is important to follow a certain algorithm of actions.
Frozen fruit is often used in the preparation of baked goods, desserts, fruit salads and cooling drinks. It pairs well with pear, banana and mint. But most often the product is consumed in its pure form, without additives. Frozen products may taste different from fresh ones. But, if freezing was carried out in accordance with the rules, the difference in taste will be minimal.
What kind of melon can be frozen?
Before freezing for the winter, special attention should be paid to the choice of melon. If you give preference to watery fruits, after defrosting they will get a porridge-like consistency. It is advisable to take firm fruit for freezing that has not been subject to deformation. The most suitable varieties of product for freezing are:
- Collective farmer;
- Persian;
- Krymka;
- Cantaloupe.
It is advisable not to choose overripe or unripe fruits for freezing. The melon should be fairly soft, but not too watery. There should be no dents or significant damage on the skin. Specimens with a dried tail are considered ripe. If you knock on them, the sound should be dull. In this case, even in its whole form, the ripe fruit will exude a characteristic aroma.
Preparing melon for freezing
Before you freeze melon in pieces for the winter, you should prepare it:
- Initially, the peel of the berry is thoroughly cleaned under running water, and then dried with a clean towel.
- The next step is to cut the fruit into two parts.
- Seeds and coarse fibers are removed with a spoon.
- The pulp is separated from the peel with a sharp knife.
- The product is cut into small pieces and placed in a deep container.
They can be frozen in plastic containers or grippers - special bags with a zip-lock fastener.
How to freeze melon for the winter
There are several ways to freeze melons for the winter. Each of them allows you to get a tasty and healthy treat. The only difference is in the appearance of the finished product. The most common methods of freezing for the winter include:
- fresh pieces;
- in sugar syrup;
- in powdered sugar;
- in the form of puree;
- as a sorbet.
Most often, housewives use the classic method. It is as simple as possible to perform. Freezing melons under a fur coat is no less popular. Sugar syrup, powder or simple sugar is used as an improvised fur coat. In this case, it is important that the fruit does not release juice before it is put in the freezer.
How to freeze melon for the winter with fresh pieces
To freeze for the winter according to the classic recipe, pieces of melon are placed on a pre-washed wooden board. A plastic film is first spread on it. It is important to ensure that the pieces do not touch each other. Otherwise, they will turn into a single mass. In this form, the board is put into the freezer. It is advisable to cover the top with newspaper so that the product does not absorb foreign odors.
After 24 hours, the frozen pieces are removed from the freezer and placed into containers or storage bags.
How to freeze melon in the freezer in sugar syrup
To choose a recipe for melon frozen for the winter, you need to understand what it will be used for.If you plan to eat it in its pure form or use it to make desserts, you can freeze the product in sugar syrup. The procurement process is as follows:
- To prepare the syrup, mix water and sugar in equal proportions.
- The next step is to place the ingredients on the fire and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- The fruit cut into pieces is poured with the resulting cooled syrup.
- In this form, the product is placed in portioned containers.
If you freeze pieces of melon in an ice-making container, you can later use it to add it to refreshing cocktails. Another suitable option is to add melon when preparing homemade compote.
Melon frozen in powdered sugar
An equally interesting recipe is frozen fruit in powdered sugar. The pieces are laid out on a flat surface of the board, and then each piece is generously sprinkled with powder. Immediately after this, the product is put into the freezer. If this action is not performed on time, the powdered sugar will be absorbed, which will make the fruit aesthetically less attractive.
Freezing melon for the winter in the form of sorbet
Sorbet is a ready-made frozen dessert based on fruits and berries. It is often prepared on the basis of melon with the addition of various fillers. Alcoholic varieties of dessert are very popular. For 6 servings of dessert you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 tbsp. water;
- juice of any citrus to taste;
- 4 tbsp. cubes of melon pulp;
- 1 tbsp. Sahara.
Cooking process:
- Sugar is mixed with water and placed on the stove. Bring the syrup to a boil over low heat.
- After cooling completely, the syrup is mixed with melon cubes and citrus juice. The components are ground in a blender to a porridge state.
- The resulting mass is distributed among the molds, leaving 2 cm to the edges.
- To make it easier to get the sorbet out after freezing, ice cream sticks are inserted into the molds.
The mint sorbet recipe is very popular. It can be done not only for winter, but also in summer. For preparation you need the following components:
- 1 tbsp. l. lime juice;
- 1 melon;
- 60 ml water;
- 4 mint leaves;
- 85 g honey.
Recipe:
- The melon is peeled from seeds and cut into portions.
- Place the melon pieces on parchment or plastic wrap and put them in the freezer for 5 hours.
- All components along with the melon are placed in a blender. Since the volume of ingredients is large, the blender will need to be loaded in 3 batches.
- After grinding, the mass is placed in a deep plastic container with a lid and put in the refrigerator.
- In a day, the product will be completely ready for use.
Melon puree
Eating frozen melon is not always convenient for young children. Fruit puree in this regard is the most suitable option. Before preparing the puree for the winter, the melon is thoroughly washed and peeled. The desired consistency is achieved using a blender. It is important that there are no lumps. For ease of use in food, it is recommended to distribute the puree into portioned containers. It should be frozen in bowls or disposable cups. After a day of freezing, you can take out the hardened puree and put it in a bag. This will avoid combining into one mass and save space in the freezer.
Shelf life
The shelf life of the product directly depends on the temperature used. If it is -5 °C, then the finished product can be stored for no longer than 3 weeks. Freezing at -15 °C increases shelf life to 2 months.At a temperature of -20 °C, melon can be stored for a whole year. But it is advisable to eat the preparations in the first winter.
Is it possible to freeze melon for the winter: reviews
Conclusion
You can freeze melon pieces for the winter in any way. Freezing will not reduce the beneficial properties. But it will be possible to add some zest to the usual desserts. To avoid changes in the structure of the fibers, it is necessary to observe all the nuances of freezing.
